sr5 to tow like a trd what do i need to do??

i was just wondering what i would need to do to get my sr5(3500) to tow like a trd(6500) tranny coooler beefed up leaf's and rear shocks?

 

It has nothing to do with Trd/non-trd, it's just whether you have the towing package or not.

I don't completely recall what the towing package has on it, I know class iii hitch and tranny cooler.....I'm sure there is more

 

heavy duty alternator

 

I believe the differences are just cooling. Trans cooler, engine oil cooler, possibly fan clutch. TRD has different shocks I think, but pretty sure the springs are the same (weak).

I would think that you'd be okay without the engine oil cooler if you run synthetic oil, but I am no expert. Definitely check and see if the fan clutch is different, and make sure you have an aux trans cooler if you have the automatic.

Sounds like most guys here end up getting the TSB leaves installed to tow with.

 

can i get some more info...get the trans cooler? and maybe new leafs? thanks for the imput guys

 

From the Toyota website...

V6 Tow Package: Class 4 Hitch, Transmission and Supplemental Oil Coolers (Transmission Cooler not available on Manual Transmission models), 130A Alternator, Heavy-Duty Battery, 7-Pin Connector with Converter

Guess everyone pretty much nailed it.

 

Do you have the dealer tow package? The sr5 and Trd have the same rear leaf springs so that won't help you

 

Well, that's true but TSB leafs will help with towing.

I just recently added a tow hitch to my truck. I did not add additional coolers but I won't be towing anything over the 3500lbs anyway so I'm not concerned with it. But yeah, the trans cooler is the biggest difference (aside from the hitch itself, of course).

Check out the Towing Bible: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/towing/4031-tacoma-towing-bible.html

 

Not possible to reach 6500# unless you can get the factory class IV hitch which requires the bed to be removed to install. All aftermarket hitches for the Tacoma are Class III with at 5000# rating.

 

It's not possible to reach 6,500# because, regardless of what you add on, the GVWR sticker isn't going to change. If it's only rated to tow 5,000 lbs, that's all you can legally tow. Even if you beef it up so it's physically able to tow 10,000 lbs, legally you're overweight.

 

Exactly... Just a different number on the sticker but there's nothing you can do to a base model to get a new sticker with a higher weight on it.

 

You can change the sticker...

 

Legally??
I'm listening...

 

What, you mean you didn't know that?

 

Just a sticker and all the testing that goes behind it... A class 3 MAY be overbuilt but that design is only tested to a certain limitation. That sticker that comes on a class 4 means it HAS to be built to a certain standard. I would not bank on all Class 3 hitches being overbuilt to be as strong as a Class 4.

 

Who said anything about laws here?

You guys are a bunch of sissies! Go big or go home! Take some risks


Lol but seriously. If you plan on towing 6,000+ lbs often then you might wanna get another tow vehicle. A class III hitch should suffice. I have an aftermarket Valley hitch and added a 7pin plug. More than enough for what I tow (a 16ft boat on the weekends, my landscape trailer during the week, and an occassional car on my buddy's trailer.) If you're an auto, I would invest in the tranny cooler for sure. I'm a MT so I don't really need to worry about the Tranny cooler.